Claude von Riegan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
leicesters) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
candybox2021-02-12 12:41 am
leicesters) wrote in candybox2021-02-12 12:41 am
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OPEN POST: Claude von Riegan - Fire Emblem: Three Houses
OPEN POST blah blah you know the drill! Leave me a starter, toss in a meme or picture prompt, or ask for a starter and I'll write you one.
Compliant with all Three Houses routes, plus Golden Wildfire from Three Hopes. Let me know if you have a preference!
Claude & Felix - Verdant Wind AU
Sylvain worries about him. Ingrid tries to discuss his recklessness sometimes. But without Dimitri changing his orders or complaining, Felix sees no reason to change his behavior or alter his strategies. Edelgard holds nothing back in her boundless ambition. She and her generals will notice any sign of weakness and exploit it ruthlessly. So Felix refuses to give her that opportunity.
Is he wrong to do what must be done?
Of course, the war grows more complicated when word arrives of the Professor's seeming return from the dead and the Alliance's claiming of the abandoned monastery at Garreg Mach. It's an amazing strategic stronghold that both the Kingdom and Empire have hoped to seize but never managed, which makes both rulers turn some of their attention back to the region they had been mostly ignoring up until that point.
On top of that worrying development, Felix's constant risk-taking eventually catches up to him during a skirmish with Empire forces. His troops win the day, but Felix sustains a serious injury to his leg during the battle. His second-in-command urges him to return to Fhirdiad for proper treatment, and without a skilled mage at their back, he can't find a good reason to refuse.
That is how he ends up back at the capital, a few days late to hear the news that Claude von Riegan himself was captured during a clash with troops led personally by King Dimitri. Undoubtedly that loss would hit the Alliance hard. Claude was supposedly working hard to keep the various nobility united, so what might happen with him gone? Would Byleth take over? Or would everything fall apart?
While recovering from his injury, a slower process since he didn't get much help straight away, Felix is around to hear much more about the war overall than before. He can't help his growing curiosity over Claude's imprisonment- he remembers him well enough when they were both students and can't imagine he allowed himself to be caught easily. Maybe there's more to this story than Dimitri can tell. That wouldn't surprise him in the least.
He asks around and soon learns that Claude is being held in a guestroom designed for such an important prisoner. It's comfortable enough, though the room had been carefully cleared of anything that could make for a good weapon. While better than a cell, it must still be terrible to be stuck in one space, not knowing the fate of one's people left behind.
With his leg still stiff and aching and a perfect storm of boredom, frustration and curiosity kicked up within him, it doesn't take much for Felix to decide to pay Claude a visit. His status alone is enough for the guards to grant him access to their noble captive's quarters. Felix only starts to doubt his decision when he steps into the room and hears the door shut and lock behind him.
What is he going to say? He and Claude barely know each other. Just another poorly thought out plan, he thinks to himself bitterly, knowing that Sylvain and Ingrid would be sighing and shaking their heads if they knew.]
So. You're the talk of the city.
[Claude looks different. More mature. Shockingly handsome.
He looks like a leader, even dressed down and trapped as a prisoner. Felix can't quite make eye contact. Even after all these years, he still struggles with that.]
Too bad you got caught. I never got the chance to fight any of your knights.
no subject
Claude could play the long game, however. In Garreg Mach were anti-Imperial forces gathering not under the banner of the Alliance, but the banner of the Crest of Flames. Believers from any walk of life in Fodlan, Alliance or not, would be attracted to the knowledge that their leader was the successor appointed by the Archbishop herself, that Seiros' will was being enacted. It inspired more loyalty than Claude ever knew he could, even if he felt a little guilty for using Byleth in that manner.
On the other hand, Claude had lead only a portion of the Alliance's army up to the northern border when he heard Dimitri was making a move. It was a desperate battle, and when he realised it wouldn't be a simple skirmish at the border, but an attempt to topple the very Alliance itself, Claude ordered those who could to flee, while he himself raised the flag of surrender.
As an outsider, he had to put the pieces in place that his army wouldn't collapse even with his loss, or even if he wasn't able to inspire everyone to trust and follow him. All those careful calculations were playing dividends, and now he had to trust Byleth to handle the rest despite his capture.
Meanwhile, here in the Kingdom, he had to play whatever cards he had left. So that meant being patient and being a good prisoner, hoping that perhaps Dimitri might want to talk to him soon. At the very least, he's banking on the knight-king to at least be honourable enough to keep him as a diplomatic prisoner, and not put him to the sword the moment he feels he's outweighed his use.
So far, no joy. He's bored, mostly. He's managed to persuade his captors to give him a few books, and even a chessboard -- even if he has no one to play with but himself. But he isn't allowed a quill and ink or parchment, lest he write some secret message to a spy in the castle. They wouldn't even give him a room with a decent view so he could observe the goings-on around the castle or in the city. His reputation as a master tactician was unfortunately backfiring on him insofar as they were cutting off any possible means he could use to leverage his situation.
At least the sky never really changes, even if it's much colder and overcast here compared to what he's used to. He's sitting by the window with his chin propped in his hand when he has an unexpected guest to finally break up the long monotony of imprisonment. Startled from his thoughts, he looks to the door and blinks in surprise.]
Ah... Felix. [Another one Claude could never get a read on in their academy days. He'd been quiet, intense, and loved training, but there always seemed to be some deep-seated anger...
Maybe he'd come to vent a little of that anger on the enemy. Still, Claude keeps a neutral smile fixed in place. No need to provoke one of Dimitri's generals.]
You could always let me go again, then you could fight as many of my best knights as you please. [He jokes. As if it would ever be that easy.]
no subject
He's still confident enough to believe himself above manipulation. And glancing around the room, it seems impossible to imagine how Claude could possibly pull any tricks. Dimitri is obviously paranoid about his rival, even while he's safely locked up in the capital. Regardless, it's unlikely that he will execute someone so important. Unlike Edelgard, Dimitri doesn't hate Claude with a terrifying passion.
Who knows what he plans to do next? Felix is here to recover from his wound, not to come up with strategies.]
That's tempting.
[There's nothing he loves more than a good challenge. Felix would love to fight the Professor again, though he has no idea if that's a possibility. And since he was injured, he knows he has room to improve when fighting Edelgard's knights. The ultimate challenge would be facing off against someone like Hubert. He... struggles against mages... and Hubert is a master of long range offensive magic. There aren't many like him to practice against in Faerghus.]
But his beastliness wouldn't be too pleased. Guess you're stuck here for now.
[He wouldn't normally insult Dimitri in front of an enemy, but Claude is a former classmate. That, and he doesn't feel like an enemy. The way he smiles and holds himself probably adds to that perception.]
no subject
What a way to speak about your commander! Can't imagine he'd be too happy about that, either.
[So Felix doesn't respect Dimitri as much as he thought. Interesting. He does have a point, though, that Dimitri seems to behave more like a beast than a man, particularly on the battlefield.]
Guess I am stuck. Did you only come here to berate me, or is there another reason for the visit?
no subject
He's used to it.
[The way Dimitri behaves on the battlefield is very much the crux of the problem. One of his problems, anyway. It's certainly the one he doesn't mind speaking about openly.]
I was bored.
[He should have come up with a better reason. Now he feels rather awkward.]
How did you get caught?
no subject
I miscalculated the Kingdom's aggression, so I surrendered. I'm sure that's disgraceful to you Faerghans and all, but I'm no use to anyone dead. Not a fan of letting my troops die unnecessary deaths, either.
[It's an honest answer, at least. He has no reason to lie about it.]
no subject
Anyway, Claude is obviously as different from Dimitri as a soldier can be. Too bad a better sense of self-preservation and greater compassion for others doesn't necessarily make for a winning combination on the battlefield.
Unless...]
No one said anything about the Alliance falling yet.
[That's as far as he intends to go with voicing his suspicions that Claude has something up his sleeve with his surrender. If the Professor is still leading the charge for him, there's no reason to think that battlefront is clear yet.]
So, how bored are you? Want something?
[Felix doesn't have anything better to do, and at least Claude is interesting. Might as well give him an excuse to come back here later.]
no subject
[He winks at Felix. That's not to say the Alliance isn't without its infighting, and he assumes that's only moreso in Claude's absence, but the more the Kingdom remains convinced the Alliance and the Church are a unified threat that isn't so easily crushed, the more they'll hesitate to plot their next move, instead of striking while the iron is hot.
Plus it's just funny to mess with Felix and make him think he's let slip useful intelligence.]
Hmm... Is it too much of a stretch to ask for some tea? Maybe we could catch up, chat about old times.
[Even if he doesn't want to chat, tea is still a nice luxury he's been missing.]